English composer Alan Smith (1962–2017) was born in London and was educated at Trinity School, King’s College, London (where he was organ scholar), and the London Institute of Education. He was Head of Music at Hazelwick School in Crawley from 1990–2012. In 2012, he left full-time teaching to focus on composition and other musical activities. Smith has won more than 10 international composition competitions with his choral and organ music. His pieces have been widely performed throughout Europe and the USA and have been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM.

“Reflections on a Rose” (2003) is loosely based on the melody of Edward MacDowell’s well-known piano piece “To a Wild Rose” (from “Woodland Sketches”).